Belfast vs London
Cost of living, weather and lifestyle comparison.
Cheaper: Belfast
Better Weather: London
Lifestyle: London
Overall: Belfast
Cost of Living (2025 data) Belfast
| Belfast | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | £1,130 | £2,286 |
| Average House Price | £178,459 | £542,304 |
| Average Monthly Energy Bill | £71.30 | £163.60 |
| Average Monthly Food Cost | £77.90 | £63.50 |
| Average Salary | £3,159 | £4,641 |
Living in Belfast is dramatically more affordable than London. The difference extends well beyond just rent; energy costs, food bills and general day-to-day expenses are all considerably lower. It is worth noting that average salaries in London are around 38% higher, which partially offsets the difference in living costs. This kind of gap can fundamentally alter your standard of living and saving potential.
Weather (2025 data) London
| Belfast | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Hours | 1239 | 1533 |
| Rainfall | 822mm | 604mm |
| Average Temperature | 12.99°C | 15.00°C |
Climate is one area where London clearly pulls ahead of Belfast. London receives around 294 more hours of sunshine per year and it is also drier, with roughly 218 mm less rainfall annually. The combination of more sunshine, less rain and more comfortable temperatures makes London one of the more weather-blessed options for UK city living.
Want to know more about the weather and weather history? Then visit our sister site https://uk-historic-weather.co.uk
Lifestyle & Location London
Lifestyle is an area where London clearly shines. Standout features include Major Airport Nearby, Strong Rail Links, Large City. It provides a richer overall package of amenities, character and livability. That said, Belfast has its own draws such as Compact City, Affordable Housing. This is likely to be a major consideration for anyone weighing up a move.
Belfast
- Lower than average housing costs (economic)
- Smaller, easier to navigate city (size)
- Population 352,390
London
- Within close distance of a major airport (transport)
- Good rail connectivity to major cities (transport)
- Above average salaries (economic)
- Major UK city (size)
- Population 9,089,736
Nearest Premier League Football Clubs
Belfast
No nearby club found.
London
- Chelsea — 3.3 miles away
- Arsenal — 3.4 miles away
- Fulham — 4.6 miles away
- West Ham United — 5.3 miles away
- Brentford — 7.0 miles away
- Tottenham Hotspur — 7.2 miles away
- Crystal Palace — 7.8 miles away
Location
Belfast
London
Who Should Choose Each?
Choose Belfast if:
- More affordable overall (salary-adjusted)
- Lower rent costs
- More affordable house prices
- Compact City
- Affordable Housing
Choose London if:
- Higher average salaries
- More sunshine
- Less rainfall
- Warmer average temperature
- Major Airport Nearby
- Strong Rail Links
- Large City
- High Salaries
Overall Score
Belfast
London
Final Verdict
Belfast comes out ahead overall.
On paper, Belfast has a fractional advantage over London, largely on the strength of affordability. In practice, however, this comparison is razor-thin. Both cities deliver a compelling proposition and the tiny gap between them means your own priorities — whether that is career, family, social life or something else entirely — should be the real deciding factor.